[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

I see you had to cut out some of the pictures to get the articles up. You most have done a lot of trial and error. We all thank you for your efforts.

Naw - I just take a pic and let 'er fly....



You are welcome.

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by rad400

Oh the good old days of fast cars.

We've still got fast cars around here, only now they are 7 sec, 8 sec and 9 second cars....

K

[rad400]

Don't forget 6 seconds too. I mean street cars when was the last time u saw 6-9s runs on the street everyday and street raced on the weekends.

[Keith Seymore]

I'm not aware of many 6 second cars that are driven around here, but this car went 7.85 (on seven cylinders) to win the NMCA "Fastest Street Car Shootout" in Memphis in 1994.

Danny drove this car to the ice cream stand, and he lives a mile and a half on dirt:



My car has been 9.85 on motor and is mild mannered as can be on the street.

K

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Keith,
Once again thank you for getting my old magazine articles up.

run both the Black bird, 12:1 or more compression and my GTO 11:1 compression on the streets. The Black bird gets straight Turbo BLue 110 octane. The GTO lives on 3/4 quarters 93 Octane and 1/4 Turbo Blue 110 Octane. There are a few stations near me that carry Turbo Blue 110 and Cam 2 105. I stick to the Turbo Blue the cars seem to run better.

Back in the day the Black bird ran on Sunoco 260 and some octane booster Jim Wangers got from his friends at Dow Chemical. They also used some traction compound from Dow as well before every street race. The cars tires had to go through a ritual of three burn outs before running. If interupted the procedure was started all over again.

There are several 8 and 9 second cars running aound Woodward and the streets of Detroit and Pontiac in the warm weather. Usually heading to Sam's Shell (Royal Oak), South Blvd near the old GM truck plant (Pontiac) or French Rd by Detroit City Airport (Detroit). A few even show up at our Saturday morning gatherings at Pastiener's Auto Zone Hobbies and Book store in Birmingham. Guy's with the name of Lingenfelter, Stielow and Kinsler. Difference these guys now drive cars with modern technology and run pump gas.

The Dream Cruise saw alot of these guys running up and down Woodward. Most are to afraid to hit the loud peddle.

It is fun to watch all of the guys and cars every Saturday.

Look up Pasteiner' Auto Zone Hobbies and Book store or some combination. There are many photos of our cars on their site. You just never know what or who might show up on any given Saturday. Like Keith Seymore with on of the first Volts....or Herb Adams with his Contessa, on and on.

Boy I wish I knew how to put a picture up with the post.

Eric

[rad400]

O.K. Keith I stand corrected. Thanks for posting. I need to make to woodward one of these years to meet you and Eric.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Thought this may be of interest. 7:30AMish Saturday Dream Cruise morning I promised myself to behave on the ride down Woodward from Maple (15 Mile Rd) down to Fresard Buick-GMC at 8 1/2 Mile Rd. I was driving the Black Bird while my son Sam followed with our '68 GTO 428 Royal Bobcat convertible and my wife in our Expedition with the Royal Pontiac club's tents.

That is until I tuned off Maple Rd in Birmingham onto the south bound four lanes of Woodward. Royal Pontiac Club Member Ron Meyer pulled along side me in his 10 second '66 GTO. Ron were in the center two lanes as we talked at the first red light, a short block past Maple Rd. At the light a brown '79 T/A with a NOS decal in his rear window drew my attention as he pulled next to me in the lane to my right . The T/A inched it's way past Ron and I at the red light as we stood there. When the light turned green the T/A goes screaming off as Ron and I left the light like normal people.

Knowing Woodward well enough the next light always turns red when this one goes green and it is a short block down. However the next light after gives you a longer distance, almost an 1/8 mile, even though it turns red when the second light goes green. At the second light the T/A had my attention. I just couldn't let this moment pass. The three of us lined up again. The light said go and I was gone. The T/A must have turned off, because he was no where to be found after I backed off. Ron caught up to me and reminded me about all of the cops.

Ron and I made some noise with our two cars as we took the Woodward Ave under pass under 10 Mile Rd and I-696 into Pleaseant Ridge. I backed off before Woodward began its upward climb to the surface. I pictured a greeting party made up of Pleasent Ridge Police and Oakland County Sheriffs. I hit the brakes hard. My son who had been following said, Dad you were doing well against Ron. Right up to the time you hit the brakes. In all fairness neither Ron nor I down shifted. We just hit the gas a little harder while running along at 45mph in high gear. Made a lot of noise under the bridges with our 3" systems. Not a real race. My ears are still ringing. lol

The Royal Pontiac Club did do some burn outs and a little street racing in front of Fresard Buick - GMC during the Dream Crusie. We were honored to have Tom Goad, Trans Am program director retired, Ben Harrison, Pontiac Motors cost manager retired, who best known for bringing you the 1969 Grand Prix and getting the Can Am into production. You will want to check the pictures and video's from the Dream Cruise at www.royalpontiac.org. Brian Ballish the Blackbird's original builder was with us too with one of his current creations.

Two of are members had their friend the Mayor of Ferndale join us. He took our fun in good humor.

Now the Blackbird is tucked away for another year. Well, maybe. John "Cheater" Politzer asked about heading to the Auto Zone Book Store on Woodward at 7:30 AM this Saturday morning Labor Day Weekend. He first asked about the Black bird. Then he said maybe we should just take the GTO. Hmmmmm?

[rad400]

Cool story Eric.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here are some pictures of the Black Bird during Dream Cruise Week. On my way to Duggan's on Woodward, at Duggan's and Fresard Buick-GMC.

NOT A TRAILER QUEEN!

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Parked with the Royal Pontiac Club. We had Tom Goad, Trans Am Group Retiree. Tom was hired by John Delorean before his departure to Chevrolet. Tom thought up and made sure the 1989 Turbo T/A was built.

Ben Harrison PMD Product Development retiree. Ben is responsible for saving and bringing you the 1969 Grand Prix. He also pushed through the 1977 Can Am.

Brian Ballish was also with us at Fresard but left before I got a picture of him.

John "Cheater" Politzer was with me at Duggan's on Tuesday. John is the one seated with my wife giving him rabbit ears. He had to go out east for a wedding on Dream Cruise weekend. John called me at 7:30AM as I was driving down Woodward I our way to Fresard. John was hoping his fight would be cancelled when he got there. It was not to happen. You can see the back panel of the Blackbird to the right, behind the wall.

The guy on the cell phone is Larry Cohen. In 1970 Larry had a all white Ram Air IV Judge with it's enigne redone by Brian Ballish at Royal Automotive. Larry had an aftermarket Mark IV air conditioner installed in the car when it was new. Sold it in Chicago when he traded it in for a new 1971 Monte Carlo SS 454. Larry had left Detroit to work for Whirlpool as an engineer. He quit within a year and came back to Detroit and became a sucessful builder.

Larry also once owned the 1965 GTO white convertible with the very first publicly released Hurst wheels. It was the Hurst Give-A- Way car at the Motor Trend Riverside 500. Larry sold it at auction to Colin Comer a few years ago.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here are some Bobcats parked with the Royal Pontiac Club during Dream Cruise week.
Duggan's and Fresard Buick-GMC.

1965 GTO 421 Tri-power 4 speed
1965 2+2 421 HO 4 speed
1967 GTO 428 HO Ram Air Convertible. Is in David Newhardt's books "Pontiac's Great One
GTO" and "American Muscle Supercars".
1968 GTO 428 HO Ram Air Convertible. Is in David Newhardt's book "Pontiac's Great One
GTO.

[Keith Seymore]

Eric - be advised someone is posting pictures under your username...


(LOL!!)

K

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Larry also once owned the 1965 GTO white convertible with the very first publicly released Hurst wheels. It was the Hurst Give-A- Way car at the Motor Trend Riverside 500. Larry sold it at auction to Colin Comer a few years ago.

Do I also understand correctly that you kept Wanger's Judge and the Blackbird in Larry's garage at one time?

K

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Keith,
I figued out the Thumb Nails. I still haven't figured out the large pictures on the post or attaching the Video of the...Um, little Woodward street racing the club did in front of Fresard Buick during the Dream Cruise.

Yes, I did have the Blackbird and the Wangers' Judge stored in Larry's lower level garage. It was housed there with Larry's '65 GTO Hurst Give-A-Way convertible and a few other cars. Larry's house had a 10 + car garage. 4 + on the main level. 6+ on the lower level. It was a great set up. Black and white tile floor, auto memoriblia, floor drain etc. Unfortunately, the building bussiness went bust and Larry sold this multi million dollar 6,000+ sq ft home for one with only a 4 car garage. The nerve! LOL

Being a custom home builder you couldn't even tell there was a lower level garage. larry also built a custom home for auto dealer Jeffery Tamaroff, Tamaroff Automotive. While with Larry's garage you had to take a steep narrow cement drive down and around to his lower level, Jeffery's garage you accessed the lower level through the main garage. With drag radials and cold pavement, it got a little slippery.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eric M. Schiffer

Keith,
I figued out the Thumb Nails.

What am I going to do with all this extra free time I'm going to have now?...

K

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here is what old time Woodward street racers now drive:
The '47 Chevy on the left is John Politzer's. Low and slow. Complete with air conditioning AM/FM, power leather bucket seats etc.
The 2011 Grand Sport Corvette convertible is Larry Cohen's.

The picture was taken on Tuesday, Dream Cruise week at Duggan's Irish Pub. Dream Cruise Central

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

These are pictures taken in Frankie Ulbrick's driveway. 1971-1972

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here are pictures of the Black Bird tucked away in the corner of Jim Wangers' AMCI collecting dust. After we shipped all of the Trans Am's, Firebird and Monti Carlo's to California one of Jim's Judges came to Detroit. The Black Bird and Monza where left behind as cast offs. The "Wangers" plated Judge was sent here to make room for the other cars in California since Jim kept the nicer of his two in California. The Buicks were left here to be worked on and as drivers when Gordon Wangers came to the Detroit office.
Jim needed a Judge here for GTO events.
I convinced Jim that the Detroit Judge needed to be more then a stocker. Since Jim never drove a stock car this Judge needed to be just a little more then a nice Ram Air III. Jim directed Duncan Micheal to make the car run with some of the old parts laying around the shop. The car became a 440 cid with 6X heads and aluminum H.O. manifold. The car ran fairly well.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

Here is some of the hidden horsepower. Weight reduction, Nitrous and George Delorean, Leader Automotive built engine. Removed wiper system, glass cowl vent, removed heater, removed fender brackets, sheet metal in the doors, fiberglass lift off hood etc.

[Dr. Eric M. Schiffer]

2002 Black Bird at Norwalk for shake down. Bad carb kept the car from running deep into the 11's. Detroit Free Press photo of the Black bird on Woodward at Long Lake Rd. Across from the old Pontiac Ad agency DMBB.